Summary

  • Nintendo games are increasing in size, with newer entries exceeding double-digit GBs due to improved scope and graphics.
  • Nintendo faces challenges in compacting highly demanding games into cartridges, unlike larger storage discs, affecting game size and compression.

After the Wii U, Nintendo returned to its roots by utilizing game cartridges. This preference holds some benefits, though a major issue is its size capacity. It’s difficult for highly demanding games to compact into the cartridges compared to the discs’ larger storage. It requires excelling compression to make those games work, which Nintendo can use.

Many 1st party Nintendo games aren’t big compared to the next-gen games on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Rarely do they ever reach over 7 GB like Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid Prime Remastered. This plan diminishes the concern for managing the Nintendo Switch’s storage.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Maker 2, and Super Mario Odyssey
Every Mario Game on the Nintendo Switch, Ranked

From precision-based platformers to creative RPGs, the best Mario games for Switch span multiple genres and should appeal to gamers of all ages.

Nintendo games are slowly improving their overall scope in content and graphical fidelity. This results in their IPs becoming more demanding in their size, making them reach over double digits.

10 Mario and Luigi Brothership

(9.9 GB)

Mario & Luigi: Brothership
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Released
November 7, 2024
Developer(s)
Acquire
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Mario & Luigi
Genre(s)
RPG, Adventure

Mario & Luigi Brothership is the recent entry that is sized to be the largest entry in the franchise. The brothers use the ship to sail the grand seas of Concordia, an expansive world broken into multiple islands. Like pirates, they can discover each location, exploring various terrains like forests, deserts, lava, and more.

The game exaggerates its character expression with its whimsical, cartoony designs, especially when the plumbers use their bros attacks. From how each character reacts like Bowser and Concordia inhabitants, it feels like the most animated entry in the series.

9 Pikmin 4

(10.5 GB)

Pikmin 4
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Released
July 21, 2023
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Pikmin
Genre(s)
Puzzle, Adventure

Pikmin 4 follows its predecessors by having a group of explorative aliens respond to an SOS signal before a malfunction crashes them onto Earth. Players can actually customize their controllable character rather than play as defined characters like Olimar and Alph. They must explore the widened areas of Earth to find their lost comrades and the SOS signal source.

This entry covers a lot of ground, including outside nature and within a house. Caves make a return from Pikmin 2 to find rarer valuables. The most newest expeditions are at night when dangers are more intense with aggressive enemies. The player is equipped with various tools for certain situations like new Pikmin and Otachi, a space dog that can carry the player or discovered treasures.

8 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

(11.3 GB)

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Racing
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Released
April 28, 2017
Developer(s)
Nintendo EAD, Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Mario Kart
Genre(s)
Racing

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was brought out from the Wii U collection for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the definitive Mario Kart 8 version with a huge roster of characters from available series like Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and even Legend of Zelda. It offers the largest customization options for Mario Kart with its arrays of vehicle bodies, wheels, and gliders. It even features new mechanics during racing like dual item slots and enhanced drifting.

Players can race through over 40 racetracks. Additional game modes are included with normal racing like Balloon Battle, Renegade Roundup, Shine Thief, Bomb-omb Blast, and Coin Race. Its race tracks are varied, referencing familiar games like Mario Kart DS and F-Zero.

7 Xenoblade Chronicles II

(13.2 GB)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2
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Released
December 1, 2017
Developer(s)
Monolith Soft
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Xenoblade Chronicles
Genre(s)
RPG

Xenoblade Chronicles II follows Rex on his adventure in the Cloud Sea. After accepting a dangerous job, the protagonist accepts a significant quest that involves taking a girl to the World Tree, the center of the world of Alrest. His journey will take him across different titans, sentient worlds that inhabit the life of humans and blades. Several human races have varied relationships between themselves and blades, which results in war between them on different titans. The characters are very animated, easily revealing their reactions to each scene, including more devastating events.

Following its predecessor, the story occurs on the bodies of moving Titans. There are more than two titans, offering more varied terrains, cultures, enemies, rewards, and more. There are no invisible boundaries, allowing players to explore as they please with caution. Along with different inhabitants are various side quests, including Blade quests that reveal their backstories and abilities.

6 Fire Emblem Warriors

(13.4 GB)

Fire Emblem Warriors
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Action RPG
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Released
September 29, 2017
Developer(s)
Koei Tecmo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Fire Emblem Warriors brings Nintendo's beloved RPG series into a more action-packed Dynasty Warriors style. Familiar units are summoned from across the series such as Fire Emblem Fates, Awakening, The Blazing Blade, and others. They fall into an original plot occurring in two unique kingdoms: Aytolis and Gristonne.

The main story progression is straightforward with different soldiers interacting between each battle. During combat, the units can be commanded similarly to an RPG. Not only can the units automatically follow the player's demands, but they can be switched into freely at any time. Players can even pair them with the currently controlled soldier for beneficial attacks.

5 Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes

(13.5 GB)

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
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Hack and Slash
JRPG
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Released
June 24, 2022
Developer(s)
Omega Force
Publisher(s)
Nintendo, Koei Tecmo
Franchise
Fire Emblem
Genre(s)
Hack and Slash, JRPG

Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes expands the formula of F ire Emblem Warriors while including features from Three Houses. Similar features did transfer into the game like duo pairs as adjutants or awakening skills. Other features that closely resemble Three Houses are relationship status and students. Ally units are more customizable with various options for class, weapons, equipment, skills, and more.

This game does a lot with its influence from Fire Emblem Three Houses, including its ever-changing story. With the three main houses, the protagonist can join one of them to experience different perspectives of the overall plot. It provides moments for the protagonist to make decisive choices, which can greatly change their fate. They even interact with the previous protagonist from Fire Emblem Three Houses.

4 Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition

(13.7 GB)

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
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Released
May 29, 2020
Developer(s)
Monolith Soft
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Xenoblade Chronicles
Genre(s)
RPG

Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is the ultimate version of what started this JRPG franchise. The story simply starts with two Titans in a death battle before freezing in place. Life forms on both titans over time, though the two races hold a hostile relationship. This aggression influenced them to war, which resulted in many lost lives, including the protagonist’s loved ones, Shulk. This hatred encourages him to quell his revenge and end the war entirely while figuring out the truth behind the races’ spite.

The game takes place on two massive titans: Bionis and Mechonis. The exploration scope is massive, hiding many secrets and dangers within the tall beings. Players can teleport around the large landmasses by finding regular landmarks and secret locations. The game doesn’t hold the player’s hand, letting them go anywhere they please. Caution is necessary when lingering in areas with threatening enemies.

3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3

(14.4 GB)

Xenoblade Chronicles 3
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Released
July 29, 2022
Developer(s)
Monolith
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Xenoblade Chronicles
Genre(s)
RPG

Following its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 takes place in the world of Aionios. Two major nations clash in an endless war that results in thousands of bodies slain or crushed. Noah and Mio are enrolled off-seers who send the dead away within their respective nations. When the two protagonists clash with their allied groups, some event breaks their connected need for war. This new power encourages the soldiers to journey for the truth behind their nations’ hostility and face the Consul, the higher authority of Aionios.

The game takes lots of influence from its predecessors into its world’s design, mixing new and familiar locations like the Sword of Mechonis and Uraya Titan. There’s a lot to find in the war-driven reality, such as faction battles, campsites, secrets, settlements, and many dead bodies. Players can explore to continue the grand main plot or find smaller, yet expanded side stories that reveal more about the world’s order.

A cutscene featuring characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 3
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Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is full of endgame content for players to challenge after clearing the main story, so here are some solid Endgame Team Builds.

2 Legend of Zelda Breath Of The Wild

(14.4 GB)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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Released
March 3, 2017
Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

Legend of Zelda Breath Of The Wild brought the series into a brand-new direction with its new structure. Hyrule Kingdom expanded as a grand open world sandbox for players to explore out of one's desires. No longer is the player forced to follow a linear story or pathway, but rather any points of interest or towards the final boss.

Once Link awakens, the game reveals the inspirational scope of the Hyrule kingdom devastated by Ganon. After gathering himself and his necessary tools, he can do anything within the kingdom to prepare for the evil within Hyrule Castle. He can interact with many activities such as finding hidden collectibles, cooking, gathering ingredients and materials, shield-surfing, gliding, completing requests, finding treasures, and much more.

1 Legend of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom

(16.3 GB)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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Released
May 12, 2023
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo

Legend of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom takes its predecessor's map before greatly growing its size to reveal much more. Brand new discoveries and locations are opened for Link to investigate while allowing him to travel from anywhere. Link can not only explore anything on Hyrule Kingdom, but anything above and way below the kingdom for brand new experiences.

Link’s new powers allow him to interact more with the environment to his advantage, including slipping through ceilings and rewinding time. His strongest ability is his Ultrahand, allowing players to create anything within their imagination such as walls, vehicles, weaponry contraptions, and more. It greatly encourages the player to be imaginative with their solutions just like Minecraft.

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